We left the Guild's office behind and headed back to the inn for the night. The fading sunset stretched our shadows across the floorboards, the golden light pooling at our feet, and the room settled into a silence that felt too tight around the edges.
"…Thinking about it again… we're in pretty deep, huh," Lilis said, dropping onto the bed with a soft thump. Her voice came out small, her usual mischief hidden under the sigh she let slip.
"True," Caina said, calm as ever, her tone cool enough to settle the air. "There's definitely a hostile faction. And the chance we're being monitored is high."
"That just makes it clearer." I clenched my fist. Something fierce and unshakable burned behind my eyes. "We're not just adventurers anymore. Even without the Guild's official support… we'll find the truth on our own."
Cecilia smiled gently, as if his words had brushed something warm inside her. "Leon is right~desuwa. Whether we're 'chosen' or not… there's no going back now."
I nodded once, slow and steady.
"So, what's the plan? Got any leads?" Lilis asked, kicking her heels against the bedframe as Caina spread a handful of old papers across the desk. The faded pages gave off that faint, dry ink smell, and the quiet around us felt like it might crack if anyone spoke too loud.
"No solid proof yet," Caina murmured, turning a brittle page with careful fingers. "But the Guild's archive did mention Zelva Kingdom a few times. We'll need more information to solve this whole thing."
"Then we'd better decide our next move," Lilis said, her tone picking up that familiar daring spark as she leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs.
"First, let's organize what we know," Cecilia said softly.
"There's definitely a selection function," I said, exhaling slowly, "and we might be its targets."
"And on top of that," Caina cut in sharply, "someone is trying to eliminate us."
"Which means how we move next matters," Lilis said, this time quieter, her eyes glinting in the lamplight.
"Yeah… and without Elsa, our strength is off-balance." I crossed my arms, that hollow weight of her absence pressing harder than I wanted to admit.
"If Elsa were here, fights would go smoother," Lilis murmured, eyes unfocused for a moment.
"But we can't wait for her," Cecilia said, her voice steady, lined with resolve. "We have to do what we can now."
"…Right." I nodded again, this time firmly.
"Do we have a destination?" Lilis asked. Caina pulled out a folded map, the light from the window spilling across it as the room sank back into silence.
"The archive mentioned ruins," Caina said, her tone cutting clear through the hush. "Ancient ruins might still hold traces of Zelva Kingdom's legacy."
"Ruins, huh. Where?"
"East of Luminous. In the mountains. The Valley of Seals."
"Valley of Seals… that sounds ominous." Lilis gave a small crooked smile, though her brow creased. The name alone felt like an echo from a lost kingdom's grave.
"They say artifacts from Zelva's final days are buried there," Caina added quietly.
"Then that's where we're going," I said. My voice came out stronger than I expected. "We'll prepare and leave tomorrow."
And just like that, our decision locked into place like a blade sliding into its sheath.
…
That night, as the inn settled into the dark, my Smart Ring pulsed softly against my finger. The quiet hum of the city faded behind the window, leaving only the cold glow from the display painting faint light across the room.
[SECOND STAGE ACTIVATED. INITIATING NEW APTITUDE DIAGNOSTIC]
On the tiny screen, my familiar avatar flicked her soft ears up in surprise, then beamed a wide grin as she spun her little magic staff. A swirl of sparkling stardust burst from the tip, rainbow light cascading across the screen while her oversized pink ribbon bounced with each happy hop.
"Yay! Second stage activation confirmed!" she chirped, her voice bubbling with cheer as she waved both arms and bounced in place, fluffy fur rippling with every move.
"…The app again." My words came out low as I stared at the screen, wariness prickling sharp at the back of my mind.
"What does it mean?" Cecilia asked softly, leaning in, her tone carrying a thin thread of worry.
"It says… it's starting a new aptitude diagnostic," Caina muttered, her eyes flicking fast over the display.
"Wait, does that mean something's about to change?" Lilis asked, her voice barely above a whisper, tension edging her usual playful tone.
"…This might be the start of our next battle," I said quietly. The metal of the Smart Ring was cold against my palm as I clenched it, and my breath fogged faintly in the dim light.
"Then tomorrow's moves are even more critical," Caina said. Her voice was steady, but the way she sat straighter told me she felt it too.
"Maybe the app's trying to guide us somewhere," Cecilia murmured, her eyes dipping, and silence swept over the room.
"Doesn't matter." Lilis's voice cut through it, firm and sharp as she clenched her fist. "Whatever it wants, we're not dancing to its tune."
"Right. This is our fight," I said. "We're not letting an app pull our strings."
Outside, the night pressed still and dark against the glass. I stared into it, let the silence hang, and nodded once.
Our next trial was already waiting for us. Close. Closer than ever.
Notes:
• Lilis - Agile rogue/thief — Leon's close friend and playful teaser. Strikes fast with twin daggers and vanishes into stealth. Petite, light-blonde hair, mischievous green eyes. Reminder: Playful trickster hiding sharp instincts.
• Cain - Calm, brilliant mage — the group's strategist and analyst. Uses lightning magic with precise, logical focus. Slender, silver hair, calm blue eyes. Reminder: Stoic thinker and precision spellcaster.
• Cecilia - Gentle yet firm healer (v1c11) — Leon's emotional support and moral anchor. Wields holy healing and purification magic. Graceful, golden hair, violet eyes. Reminder: Kind priestess with hidden resolve.
• Elsa - Proud red-haired warrior — once a frontline fighter, deeply trusts (and loves) Leon. Masters raw strength and combat. Tall, long crimson hair, fierce golden eyes. Reminder: Fierce protector, sharper after her return.